If you’d like to work with children, a career in childcare is an ideal option – especially if you’re interested in early childhood education and development.
Childcare is a rewarding profession that allows you to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of young children.
Early childhood education and care is also a booming industry with no signs of slowing down, so career prospects are high.
Careers in Children’s Services
- Early Childhood Educator
- Kindergarten Assistant
- Preschool Assistant
- Family Day Care Educator
- Private Nanny
- Outside School Hours Care
What Qualities Do Childcare Workers Need?
- Love Working with Children
If you love children, working in Childcare is an excellent career option for you. Successful Childcare workers relate well to young children and can build rapport quickly with this young age group.
- High-Level Communication Skills
To be a successful Childcare worker, excellent written and verbal communication skills are vital. You need to communicate with other educators, children and parents or guardians professionally and transparently.
- Listening Skills and Patience
The ability to understand the needs of young children and to meet their educational and developmental needs requires excellent listening skills. You’ll also need to have the patience to work well with young children and their families.
- Organisation and Time-Management
In a childcare environment, you will have to deal with competing priorities and multiple responsibilities daily, which makes organisation and time-management skills vital.
- Ability to Form Strong Relationships
You will need an innate ability to connect with young children and their parents/guardians to gain their respect and trust. After all, you’re tasked with caring for the most precious people in their lives.
- Friendly Disposition and Approachability
If you’re friendly and approachable, you’re a perfect fit for a career in Childcare. You need this personality-type to encourage open and honest communication with co-workers and parents/guardians. This positive two-way communication means you will be better equipped to meet the needs of the young children in your care.
- Teamwork and Leadership
Co-operation with co-workers and parents/guardians is essential to meeting the educational and developmental needs of young children in your care. In a leadership role, you will need strong skills in supporting co-workers to achieve mutual goals in Childcare.
Daily Tasks and Responsibilities of Childcare Workers
There are many duties that a childcare worker performs daily, but foremost is the care and responsibility for babies, toddlers and young children to ensure their educational, social, physical and intellectual development.
- Organise materials for activities and games
- Prepare of meal and snacks
- Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with children and families
- Uphold a safe environment for children, staff and visitors
Professional Development for Childcare
Many skills are valued in the Childcare industry, such as child psychology and development, baby and toddler care, child protection and case management, education support, understanding learning difficulties, speech pathology and youth and family studies.
So, whether you want to explore this career further, upskill in your current role or are returning to work after a break, an online professional development course in Childcare with Australian Online Courses will give you the confidence to achieve your goals.
